Prank e



(No Model.)

' F. E. WILLIAMS.

APPLIANCE FOR SPINNING TOPS, 8w. No. 420,755. Patented Feb. 4, 1890.

NITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

FRANK E. WILLIAMS, OF ALHAMBRA, CALIFORNIA.

APPLIANCE FOR SPlNNlNG-TOPS,-8oc

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 420,755, dated February 4, 1890.

Application filed April 1,1389. Serial No. 306,591. (No model.)

To all whom/it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK E. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alhambra, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Top -Spinning Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of topspinning devices in which a cord is used to impart motion to the top.

My invention comprises a sooketed or tubular flanged stem or spindle fixed upon the head of the top and coaxial with the top, a top-spinning handle or holder provided with a downwardly-proj ectin g pivot adapted to fit the socket of the stem, and also provided with a downwardly-projecting cord-retaining pin or stud arranged parallel with the pivot at such a distance therefrom that when the pivot is inserted in the socket of the stem the periphery of the flange is brought into close proximity with, but does not touch, the retaining-pin.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figurel shows the handle or holder and the top in position for spinning. Fig. 2 is a vertical mid-section of the holder and top, showing the top dropping from the holder.

A is the top.

B is the socketed or tubular flanged stem. 0 is the annular flange thereon.

D is the socket in the stem.

E is the handle or holder.

F is the pivot.

G is the cord-retaining pin.

H is the cord.

To spin the top, the pivot F is inserted into the socketed stem, thus bringing the flanged end of the stem against the end of the handle or holder. The cord is then wound once around the stem, the two ends or members thereof being interposed between the tubular stem and the retaining-pin below the flange, care being taken that the member of the cord held in the hand (indicated by h) be drawn to clasp the other member (indicated by h) between itself and the flange and body of the stem. The cord is then drawn rapidly in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. The retaining-pin G prevents the cord from overriding the flange C and the member it binds the cord so firmly against the stem and flange as to prevent the cord from slipping upon the stem. The moving cord therefore actuates the stem to rotate the top. While the cord is thus strained, the loop around the stem is held firmly and fits the stem closely, thus preventing the flange from slipping 6o therethrough, whereby the flange is held in position against the handle until the strain upon the member h ceases. Immediately the member h slackens the top falls, the flange carries the loop below the retaining-pin G, and the loop is then immediately released, thereby leaving the top free to fall to the surface upon which it is to be spun. The flange is of such width that the space between the pin and the neck of the stem will easily accommodate the cord, so that there will be no friction between the pin, stem, and cord. Otherwise such friction would prevent the top from falling freely when the cord is slackened before fully withdrawn.

Now, having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is'* 1. In the top spinning device described, the holder consisting of a handle provided with the pivot F, projecting from such handle and adapted to fit the socket of the tubular stem of a top, and also provided with the cord retaining pin G, projecting from such handle, parallel with such pivot, as and for the purpose set forth.

'2. In a top-spinning device, the tubular stem B, fixed upon the head of the top and provided with the flange C, as set forth, in combination with the holder having pivot F 0 and cord-retaining pin G, projecting therefrom.

3. In the top-spinning device set forth, the top provided with a flanged tubular stem, and a handle provided with the projecting 5 pivot F and cordretaining pin G, arranged parallel with each other, said stem and han dle being combined with each other and with a cord, substantially as and for the purpose handle, parallel with such pivot, and the 00rd set forth. encircling the same and interposed between 4. The combination set forth of the top it and such pin. provided with the flanged tubular stem B, FRANK E. WILLIAMS. 5 the handle provided with the pivot F, adapted Vitnesses:

to be inserted in such tubular stem, and with XVHITFIELD TERRIBERRY, the cord-retaining pin G, projecting from the M. C. GALES. 

